Taking responsibility

Florida State guard Derwin Kitchen, who totaled 23 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists against Virginia Commonwealth, nonetheless lamented a series of costly breakdowns that may have cost the Seminoles a chance at victory at the Alamodome.

Kitchen failed to get off a shot at the end of regulation, then was the defensive victim when Bradford Burgess broke free for the game-winning layup with seven seconds left in overtime. Driving toward the basket with time expiring, the senior elected not to shoot after driving the baseline, kicking it out for a desperate shot that was eventually blocked.

At the end of regulation, “I misjudged the clock,” Kitchen said. “I didn’t realize how much time was left.”

On the Burgess bucket, which saw the VCU player curl between two defenders for a quick inbounds bounce pass and layup from guard Joey Rodriguez, “It was a mistake on me,” Kitchen said. “I turned my head the wrong way and he slipped in and got a clear look at the basket.”

On the final drive, Kitchen said he felt he had bobbled the ball and couldn’t get off a clean shot.